CHAPTER XXXV 

 EXHIBITS, SCORING, JUDGING, DESCRIBING 



Exhibits. The educational value of national, state, and county 

 fairs to fruit-growers has sometimes been overlooked. Whether 

 the grower exhibits the product of his orchard at these fairs or 

 at those held by horticultural societies, granges, and similar organi- 

 zations, or simply attends as an onlooker, he cannot help receiving 

 much benefit from them. 



The advantages of fruit exhibits consist in informing the grower 

 of the methods and results obtained by other orchardists, and in 

 giving him an opportunity to meet and talk with men who have 

 been more successful than he. Then, too, the consumer is educated 

 as to the varieties and their uses in such a way as to make him a 

 more intelligent purchaser. It is unfortunate, however, that some 

 of the effects of exhibiting at fairs and meetings have proved dis- 

 couraging to the grower. If he is a beginner, there is danger that 

 he will feel incapable of ever producing such results as he sees on 

 all sides of him. Or perhaps a grower has been induced to exhibit 

 his fruit and through a lack of fairness or an error in judgment has 

 lost a prize that seemed justly his. Such occurrences are apt to 

 prevent the diffident grower from getting all the help possible out 

 of displaying his product. In addition to these discouragements, 

 there must be considered the large amount of disagreeable work 

 that an exhibit involves. Often the time spent seems out of all 

 proportion to the good accomplished. 



Preparing fruit for exhibition. No definite rules can be laid 

 down for the preparation of apples for exhibition. Some growers 

 simply select their best fruit and give no special thought to it 

 except to exercise care in handling. Others not only select the 

 best fruit, but coat it with such preparations as beeswax, shellac, 

 etc., which have a tendency to keep the fruit in good condition 

 for a long period. Some fairs, however, do not permit the use 

 of these preparations. 



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